Tread assembly



March 5, 1963 J. A. WAHLFELD TREAD ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.l1, 1960 Zfe March 5, 1963 J. A. WAHLFELD 3,079,652

TREAD ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INV EN TOR.

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3,079,652 TREAD ASSEMBLY James A. Wahifeid, 216 W. Stratford Drive,Peoria, 1li. Filed Jan. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 1,560 Claims. (Cl. Zit-64)The present invention relates to a tread assembly for use in connectionwith doorways. More particularly, it has to do with a treadway platformespecially suited for use with outer doors of a kind providing a weatherbarrier at the sill. The present application is a continuation-inpart ofmy co-pending application, Ser. No. 801,102, filed March 23, 1959.

It is well known that air leakage and consequent heat loss areparticularly troublesome in the case of doors at the entrance betweenthe exterior and interior of a house or other enclosure. The lack of aneective seal betwen the door and underlying floor not only permits theescape of Warm air to the outside and, conversely, the entrance of coldexterior air but the metal thresholds often used at the present alsoserve to conduct heat past the door resulting in heat loss and interiorfrosting of the threshold.

The aforementioned co-pending application discloses a threshold assemblyhaving most effective sealing capabilities. Described and claimed inthat application are several embodiments all of which feature a fiexblesealing element forming the actual threshold against which the bottom ofthe door is engaged when closed. One feature of the assemblies disclosedin the aforesaid co-pending application is the wide flexibility of theiradaption to many different door sills contours, and variation ofinterior floor levels. However, certain advantages of that applicationhave been supplemented and further advantages attained with the presentinvention for certain installations and improved modes of attachment aswhere stone, or different pitches or levels, or an unfinished thresholdmight be present.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide acombination door frame, door sill or threshold assembly which is simpleand readily installed and eliminates the special preparations requiredto install other door sills.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tread assemblywhich may be affixed in place with a minimum of securing means such aswood screws.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sill andthreshold assembly which is capable of accommodating various fioorconstructions and various interior finished oors.

A door sill and threshold assembly constructed in accordance with thepresent invention includes a treadway defining a platform mountable toproject away from the sealer which engages the door in its closedposition. The platform projects beyond the fioor construction, whetherwood or concrete, and is turned downwardly to form a front edge plate. Ajoint member is presented inwardly from the front edge plate to face theedge of the floor construction. On the under side of the platform is acoupling member facing downwardly. Cooperating with the platform is ananchor afiixable over the front edge of the iioor construction andhaving a joint element projecting outwardly and lockingly engageablewith the joint member together with a coupling element projectingupwardly and engageable with the coupling member.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a doorway frame having adoor sill and threshold assembly of the present invention installedthereon;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing installation of what iscommonly called slab construction; and

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show adaptability to various interior finish floorcoverings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 3 and 4 for purposes of illustrating thepresent invention, a conventionally formed doorway includes a fioorconstruction composed of sub-floor or sub-sill 11 and a box framingmember 12 or of a concrete slab 11 (FIG. 3). At one side of the doorwayis the usual upright jamb 13, the front edge of which is partiallycovered by trim 14. A recess 15 is cutout in jamb 13 in the usual mannerto accommodate a door (not shown) suitably hinged to the door frame andclosable against jamb 13. For weather protection along the verticalmargins of the door, Weather stripping 16 runs vertically along thesurface of recess 15 facing the door edge.

The entire sill and threshold assembly 20 includes a pair of channelsections 21 and 22, preferably of extruded aluminum, and a sealing stripor sealer 23 interlockingly secured between channel sections 21 and 22.The inward terminus of channel section 21 includes a downwardlypropecting leg 24 having its lower end turned outwardly to define afooting restable upon sub-floor 11. Leg 24 and the inward edge ofchannel section 21 define a recess 26 running horizontally along thelength of channel section 21. In addition, an upturned lip projectinginwardly from leg 24 is formed into an arcuate shoulder 27, the latteralso running horizontally the width of the doorway. Shoulder 27 togetherwith leg 24 defines an arcuate hinge seat 28 also running horizontallythe width of the assembly. The upper surface of channel section 21defines a platform projecting slightly downwardly and outwardly awayfrom sealer 23. The upper surface of the platformA is formed to define aplurality of ribs whichl afford a roughened non-skid surface as well ascontributing to added rigidity. In addition, a suitable plastic embeddedwith minute cinder particles or the like is preferably secured in stripslongitudinally in the recesses between the ribs to even furthercontribute to safe traction on the platform surface.

Channel section 22 has an inwardly and downwardly depending leg 30. Leg39 is preferably tapered downwardly to define a knife edge embeddable inthe top surface of the interior floor covering 31. Adjacent sealer 23,member 22 terminates with a shape defining recess 33 running across thewidth of the doorway. The lower wall 34 of recess 33 has a downwardlyrecessed intermediate section 35- and projects away from leg 3i) withits free end shaped to define an arcuate hinge 36 receivable overshoulder 27 and into the hinge seat. In order to provide a heat barrierbetween treadway section 21 and interior section 22, a semi-cylindricaljointelement 33 is disposed over shoulder 27 between the latter andhinge 36. Ioint element 3S may consist of a plurality of short sectionsfor easier installation and isv o a heat insulative material.

Channel sections 21 and 22 are held rigidly in position on sub-floor 11by a plurality of -wood screws 4t) which project through recessedportion 35 of member 22. In the case of slab 11', screws 40 are securedwith conventional masonry anchors 40 (FIG. 3). It will be noted thathinge seat 28 and hinge 36 have sufficient play to permit section 22 toarticulate appreciably with respect to section 21. Consequently,differences in height between fioor surface 31 and sub-floor 11 areeasily accommodated. When screws 40 are tightened, interior channelsection 22 is drawn toward fioor surface 31, bringing leg Sti intosealingly tight frictional engage- Patented Mar. 5, 195,3",

ment therewith. Similarly, leg 24 is also pulled tightly againstsub-floor 11;

Sealer 23 preferably is formed of a material such as extruded-greyvinyl; `it has the characteristics ofbeing both resilient and-compressible asthe result of which its.

convexA top Wall 4.?.V iscompressible downwardly upon closure of a doorthereagainst, while at the same time itrengages the bottom surface ofthe door toprovide a weather-tight barrier. Suitable materials includenatural. or-syntheticrubber, as welly as- Variousplastic-S. Sealer23include's oppositely projectingv iianges 43 and 44respcctiyelyengageable in.- recesses 33 and-26. For added strength anddurability, anges.43 and ,44 are interconnectedby a web 45.

Itwill be observed, that-treadway platform 21 serves to replace thewooden sill heretofore normally furnished with, door frames. Theplatformprojects beyond suboor llf'and is then turneddownwardly todeiinea frontV edge plate 47.` In accordance with `the ,present inventionth`efacility and ,varied .adaptability ofmounting the tread-assembly isenhanced. by a unique intercorrelation of .the,elements. To this-end, a.joint. member 48 projectsinwardly from .the ylower marginal edge ofplate 47.` In this specific embodiment it preferably is formed to definean` elongated socket running. alongy the length oiplatey 47.Alsoincluded .are a pair of rails projecting downwardly from platformv2,1 to deiine a recess 49 extendingthe length of the platform undersideand forming acoupling member.

Cooperating. with. they treadway` assembly is. anchor.V

strip 50. v Strip 50 is generally L-shaped, having a shorter leglorlip51 projecting over the front edge of sub-y iioorll and alonger leg 52disposedalong the front edge surface of sub-oor 11 and down over box'12.Anchor Silissecured to lioor construction by-wood screws 53sunk,into.box.12.or'concrete nails 53 driven into slab 11'.. Projectingoutwardlyfrom'legV 52 is a strut 54 terminatingin a. joint elementlockingly engageable with joint member 48; accordingly, the freejend ofstrut 54- forms `an elongated ball joint receivable inthe socketdefined'byrjoint member 48; Projecting-upwardly from anchor 59 is astud55 the free end of which defines a coupling element receivable in recess49;

VMountingV offtheentire assembly'is simple and easy. First, treadwaysection 21v is trimmed to fit snugly withntheWidth of a doorway inabutting nrelationship with the Vjamb .and trim elements. Similarly,interior section 22 is cut tolitwithin thedoorframe. Anchor 5t), cuttoproperlengthiscoupled to platform section 21 merely byinserting theelongated ball joint end of strut 54 within the socket of joint member43. As the two pieces slide into` matching position, the free end ofstud 55 is inserted between the rails of coupling recess 49. Uponplacing platform section 21, anchor 50 comes into position-over theupper-corner of iioor construction.

The two principal sections 21 and 22 are then tightened into positionbyY screws 40 after which sealer 23 is slipped into recesses 43 and 44,having first been trimmed to properlength; With sealer 23 in place, itsarcuate top wallV 42 may be pinched anda slight downward forceappliedgythishasthe effect of deforming web 45 to insure that it nestsproperly within recess 35. Thereupon the web is momentarily presseddownwardly from the top toforce the'lower wall into a downwardly archedconfiguration if desired and then released to permit the upper-wall toresume its upwardly arched position. Thereafter, web 45 ,tends tomaintain an arched configuration underV a stressV which acts-to resistinadvertent displacement ofthe sealing strip from its interlock with thetwo rigid sections. Finally, screw 53 is sunk and tightened down.

FIGS. 2, 34a, 4b and 4c serves to exemplify the wide versatility ofadaptationto various flooring arrangements. FIG. 2 Vdepicts thecombination of sub-floor, carpeting andV underlayments. As indicatedlpreviously, FIG. 3.

pertains to concrete slab construction with the interior covered withtile or the like; in this instance, leg 3G may be formed slightlydiiferent 'than as shown in FIG. 2 in order to accommodate the diierencein interior surface heighth. FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the flexibilityas between partial and full thickness ooring 31a and Sib respectively,utilizingra spacer et] on top of sub-floor ll when accommodating thefull thickness. FiG. 4c illustrates use of the apparatus in connectionwith the combination of tile or the like. and an underlayment asindicated at Sic. As shown in FIGS..3 andA, nails 6i may be drivenupwardly through the end margins of. platform 2.1Y and into the lowerend portion of jamb 13for added rigidity.

It will be observed -that all rigid portions are easily manufacturedwith conventional techniques. Moreover, they are shaped to permit readypackaging for shipment; Yet they assemble interlockingly to form an:extremely rigid treadway assembly which may be quickly assembled` andaffixed into place. The inventive assembly completely eliminates Vanynecessity Vfor cutting away the sub-licor, cutting down the boxmember,chamfering the joist orcrippling the sub-floor., All of such operationsare required in the installation of the ordinary door frame having awooden sill.`

While a particular embodiment` of the present invention hasbeen-shownand described, it will beobvious to those-skilled inthe .artthatch-anges and modifications may be .made without departing from-theinvention in its` broader aspects. Accordingly, the aim-in the appendedclaims istocover all such changes and modifications as followin .thetrue Vspirit andseope ofthe invention@ Whatis .claimed is:

l. Atreadassernbly secured over a door sill in locking engagement with athreshold sealer toprovide a weather barrier witha door comprising atreadway, a sealer secured in the treadway, said treadway extendingoutwardlyv from the sealer beyond the door sill, a front edge plateintegrally formed with and extending downwardly from the treadway beyondsaid sill, a joint member facingf inwardly from and running the width ofthe front edge plate, -said joint member'integrally formed on the loweredge-ot the front edge vand an anchoring strip secured-on the frontedgesurface'ofjthe sill having lan outwardly extending lstrut interlockingwith said joint mem-herto retain said treadway to said sill wherebythesealer is in alignment with the door to etfect a weather-tightbarrier when the door is in closed-position.

2. A tread assembly secured over a door sill in locke ing engagementwith a threshold seaier to provide a Weather ybarrier with a doorcomprising atreadway, a sealer secured in the treadway, said treadwayextending outwardly from the sealer beyond the door sill, a front; edgeplate integrally` formed with and'extending downwardly from the treadwaybeyond said sill, a iirst joint memberintegrally formed with and runningthe width along the under side of said treadway, a second Vjoint*ymemberl integrally formed on the inner surface ofthe front edge plateand running the width thereof, and an anchoringestrip secured on thefront edge of the sill hav-V ing anYup-wardly extending stub received insaid rst joint member and an outwardly extending strut interlocking'with said second joint member to retain the tread assem-l bly to thesill whereby the sealer is retained in alignment with the door to effecta weathertight barrier when, the door is in the closed position;

3. A tread assembly secured over ardoor sillin locking engagement with athresholdV sealer to provide a weather barrier with a door comprising anouter treadway section, a sealer having one edge secured in the outertreadway section, said outer treadway section extending outwardly fromthe sealer beyond the door sill, a front edge plate integrally formedwith the outwardly extending edge of said outer section and extendingdownwardly therefrom, a hinge member formed on the inner edge of saidouterv treadway'section extending the width thereof,

a joint member facing inwardly from and running the width of the frontedge plate, said joint member integrally formed on the lower edge of thefront edge plate, an inner treadway section, said inner treadway sectioninterlocking with said hinge member and securing the other edge of saidsealer and an .anchoring strip secured on the front edge of the sillhaving an outwardly extending strut interlocking with said joint memberto retain said inner and outer treadway to said sill whereby the sealeris retained in alignment with the door to etect a weathertight barrierwhen the door is in the closed position.

4. A treadway assembly secured over a door sill in locking engagementwith a threshold sealer to provide a weather barrier with a doorcomprising an outer treadF Way section, a sealer having one edge securedin the outer treadway section, said outer treadway section extendingoutwardly from the sealer beyond the door sill, a front edge plateintegral With the outwardly extending edge of said outer section andextending downwardly therefrom, a hinge member formed on the inner edgeof said outer treadway section extending the width thereof, a firstjoint member integrally formed with and running the width along theunderside of said outer treadway section, a. second joint memberintegrally formed on the inner surface of the front edge plate andrunning the width thereof, an inner treadway section, said innertreadway section interlocking with said hinge member and securing theother edge of said sealer and an anchoring strip secured on the frontedge of the sill having an upwardly extending stub received in saidiirst joint member and an outwardly extending strut interlocking withsaid second joint member to secure the tread assembly to the sillwhereby the sealer is retained in alignment with the door to etect aweathertight barrier when the door is in the closed position.

5. A tread assembly secured over a door sill in locking engagement witha threshold sealer to provide a weather barrier with a door comprisingan outer treadway section, an inner treadway section, a hinge mem-ber onsaid outer treadway lsection interlocking said ou-ter treadway sectionwith said inner treadway section, -a sealer releasably retained betweenand by said outer and inner treadway sections, said outer treadwaysection extending outwardly from the sealer, a front edge plateextending downwardly from the treadway Abeyond said sill, land ananchoring strip secured on the front edge of the sill interlocking withsaid treadway and said front edge plate to retain said inner and outertreadway sections to said sill, posi- :tioning said sealer in alignmentwith a door to eiect a weather `barrier when the door is in the closedposition.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,089,380 Kammerer Aug. 10, 1937 2,731,117 Abelson Jan. 17, 19562,804,954 Gillespie Sept. 3, 1957 2,843,233 Walsh July l5, 19582,872,714 Odegaarde et al Feb. l0, 1959 2,916,112 Kiehl Dec. 8, 1959

2. A TREAD ASSEMBLY SECURED OVER A DOOR SILL IN LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITHA THRESHOLD SEALER TO PROVIDE A WEATHER BARRIER WITH A DOOR COMPRISING ATREADWAY, A SEALER SECURED IN THE TREADWAY, SAID TREADWAY EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY FROM THE SEALER BEYOND THE DOOR SILL, A FRONT EDGE PLATEINTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TREADWAY BEYONDSAID SILL, A FIRST JOINT MEMBER INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AND RUNNING THEWIDTH ALONG THE UNDER SIDE OF SAID TREADWAY, A SECOND JOINT MEMBERINTEGRALLY FORMED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE FRONT EDGE PLATE ANDRUNNING THE WIDTH THEREOF, AND AN ANCHORING STRIP SECURED ON THE FRONTEDGE OF THE SILL HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING STUB RECEIVED IN SAIDFIRST JOINT MEMBER AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING STRUT INTERLOCKING WITHSAID SECOND JOINT MEMBER TO RETAIN THE TREAD ASSEMBLY TO THE SILLWHEREBY THE SEALER IS RETAINED IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE DOOR TO EFFECT AWEATHERTIGHT BARRIER WHEN THE DOOR IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.